Pauline in one of her fairy costumes and another two mischevious imps, all set for storytelling

2015 Events:

My first storytelling session of the year was at the Pitscurry Project . The Pitscurry Project provides training and day services for adults with learning disabilities and are hoping to do a project on local myths and legends for either Halloween or Beltane in 2016.  Watch this space!  (P.S.  Wonderful cafe and gardens – do make a visit!)

At the end of May, the Banff Coast Festival  invited me back for a second year – this year the theme was “Light” and I learned a few new stories which are sure to become some of my favourites.

On the first of June I was telling stories about gardens, flowers, plants and trees at Drum Castle’s Chelsea Fringe Event.  I had been scheduled to tell stories in their beautiful formal gardens, but unfortunately the heavens opened – luckily there was a very cosy place indeed inside the castle which we made comfortable with blankets and cushions.  There were a lot of adults tempted in by the stories as well, so it was a wonderful session!

Before heading off to Glastonbury, I told stories at the Robertson Road Centre, Fraserburghm which provides day service opportunities to adults who have a disability.  I have to say it was the best banter I’ve had all year and that “Jack, Jack – yer sic a tattieheid!  Fit a neep! will forever be included in my telling of “Lazy Jack.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know it sounds a bit repetitive but I’m sure THIS year at Glastonbury has been the best ever!  This year I had some company in the form of Fizzy the Fairy who is the perfect compliment to my Thistle The Fairy character.  Let me tell you – she’s really cheeky!  But clearly she has some star potential as we made it on to the front of the BBC Music at Glastonbury web page (see photo above)
She’d like me to assure all her fans that she’ll be making a lot more appearances in the future!

No sooner were we back from our Glastonbury journey than I was telling nature and environment stories at the Burn O Vat.  Once again I’m covered in lumps from the midgies – perhaps if I had told that story I wouldn’t have been stung so often?

The Rhynie Wifies were at Castle Fraser again on the weekends of the 18th/19th July for the Rumbling Romans and Wicked Warriors event next weekend, 18th and 18th July 2015. Visitors took part in Warrior School, Iron Age Crafts, Cooking and Dyeing/  We were as wicked as we Wifies (and one Tiny Rhynie Quinie) could fit into a weekend.

Perth Prehistory Festival 2015 will be held the weekend of 22nd and 23rd August 2015.  I had the chance to tell all of my iron age tales in full kit and enjoyed seeing all the other crafts stalls and chatting to other folks from prehistory!

 

 

In Summer, I organised a meeting of the Grampian Association of Storytellers who have been having some time off since 2012.  I’m proud to say we have a new committee now and that we will be organising monthly storytelling sessions from now on – please see the GAS Facebook Page for details.

I was asked to tell some ghost and horror stories at the Bottlecap Brewery in Aberdeen on Halloween.  It was a great night with a couple of other performers telling stories and reading some classical Edwardian ghost stories.  As it was an adult audience and there were some amazing acoustics, I sang a couple of ballads too (The Unquiet Grave and Wullie’s Ghost)

After that, Fizzy and I (and all of our other puppet friends) were able to let our hair down and enjoy Christmas and New Year.  We’re now looking forward to 2016 and all it will bring!  As of the 4th January, I will be doing Children’s Parties as “Fizzy’s Fairy Parties” and my Rhynie Wifie friend, Karen and I will be aiming to bring prehistory to life for school aged children across the North East.  Something which has been missing for a few years since Archaeolink closed down.

See you in 2016! 😀

The Rhynie Wifies and friends save Santa at the Ironworks in December 2013

Events 2014:

In January 2014, I made a trip up to Peterhead harbour and undaintily clambered aboard the Amity II, the fishing boat belonging toTrawlermen‘s Jimmy Buchan.  There a new signature dish, the Blue Toon Bree was cooked up by chef David Littlewood of the Kildrummy Inn inspired by local folklore, the Blue Toon’s fishing history and images of Peterhead. The resulting show, “The Town Is The Menu” was played on BBC Radio 4 later on in the year and you can find out more by following this link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b040hhnr

In March I was a guest at the Banchory Heritage Group.  I brought along some of my Iron Age kit and told a mixture of stories – some local, some with an Iron Age setting and some that are just my favourite.  A most enjoyable evening!

In May, I told local stories at Aden Country Park’s “Our Story” event.  I also led a group singing Bothy Ballads – which went very well considering I only knew 3 of them off by heart and had to depend on the words!  Visitors also had the chance to write down their own stories from their farming past.

I was also involved in the Banff Coast Festival at the end of May – their theme was the Sea – so I did a few sea shanties too!

I was back telling stories at the Banchory River Festival at the start of June – one of my favourite locations! The museum and library always put so much effort in to their events and decorate the building to suit.  This year the theme was “The Muckle Spate of 1829” – so stories of stories of floods, fish, selkies and salty old seadogs were the order of the day!

Before I left to go to Glastonbury, I did an evening session at Midstocket Mews sheltered housing.  What an amazing time I had!  It was nice to get requested to sing a couple of Bothies too.  I love an audience that join in!

Glastonbury 2014 was amazing as ever!  I think it was the best one yet – I had a wonderful time in the Kidz Field telling stories with John Row, Donald Nelson, Christine Willison, Cath Little and others – and I was at the opening of the Kidz Field for the first time. Wow! Never has a fairy been high-fived so often in a one hour period.
Storytelling in the Green Futures field was also wonderful – and it was also a chance to sit back and listen to Christine and Cath’s stories. A perfect festival – looking forward to the next one!

Straight after Glastonbury, I was back to one of my favourite places for the Burn o Vat Open Day.  I told my favourite nature and environment stories and it was one of the hottest days of the year! As the sun was out, I think it was only appropriate that I told “How The Raven Brought The Sun” – you can see Roxy the Raven helping me out in the photo.

Throughout the summer, Crathes Castle had been host to a number of storytellers.  On the 10th July it was my turn.  It was fantastic weather again and I had a great spot within the walled garden to tell a grand collection of Scottish Tales!

Another weekend, another Castle !  This time it was for the Rhynie Wifies – we joined The Devil’s Horsemen, Comitatus and others at Castle Fraser for their Chariot event.  Usually at this time of year we’re a little out of the time period as Castle Fraser put on their Medieval Jousting Tournament… but to be back in amongst the Romans ?  We felt right at home!
In September I was fair chuffed to win the TMSA Kirriemuir Folk Festival Storytelling Cup with my version of an Estonian tale called “All Three!”  All cup winners are asked to take part in the Cupwinners Concert in the evening and I also got the runners-up cup for being the most entertaining at the concert.  (Well, it is one of my favourite stories and I do enjoy telling it!)

On the 4th October I was invited to do a turn at the TMSA Cookney Meal and Ale – another richt enjoyable evening!

I ended the year by visiting Arduthie Primary School in Stonehaven – Miss Philips class had been doing a project on Scotland so I was all to happy to bring some traditional Scottish stories to them.